Typewriter desk



March 4 1924. 1,485,549

w. c. BiENEMAN TYPEWRITER DESK Filed Sent/ 24, .1920 g Sheets-Sheet x Li J LAO/muck ail 77561730.)". I

Patented Mar. 4, 1924.

UHTE

FFICE. i

TYPEW'RITEB: DESK.

Application. filed. September 24, 1820.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER C. BIENE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, resi ding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriter Desks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to typewriter desks or cabinets, and, more specifically to a desk of this character which when closed may be used as an ordinary fiat top desk, and when open will present the typewriter in. the proper osition for use.

The invention has for one of its objects to providea desk of this character with receptacles for stationery, eto., associated with the desk top, and also located within the desk, and so constructed and arranged that such receptacles will be conveniently located and readily accessible when the desk is opened, but which will be below the top when closed, and that when closed the desk will be at the proper height for use as an ordinary flat top desk.

A further object is to provide a typewriter desk Which in use will not require the frequent opening of drawers to obtain the various kinds of stationery and to provide convenient 'means for containing the various kinds of stationery in separated condition.

Another object is to provide improved mechanism associated with the top of the desk and typewriter platform for moving the typewriter into and out of operative position as the desk top is opened and closed, and which may be operated with a minimum effort, and in which the initial and final forces involved on opening and closing are more nearly balanced and no large or unexpected forces are developed such as to cause the sudden opening or closing of the desk and possible injury to the operator.

The invention consists in the novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements to be hereinafter described and claimed, for carrying out the above stated objects, and such other objects as will appear in the following description.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred Serial No. 412,500.

embodiment in the. accompanying drawings,

wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of. thedesk in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar. perspective showingthe desk open and the typewriter platform in position for use, and also. certain of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on .a line corresponding to the line of Fig.

5,,but showing the desk in closed position,

and illustrating the arrangement of levers.

ciplesof my invention I have shown them applied to a double pedestal, flattop desk 10 of such a height as is. convenient for use as'. an ordinary fiat top desk. It is obvious, however, that the principles of my invention are applicable to single pedestal desks. The desk is shown provided with the usual drawers, as shown, the upper drawers 11 being preferably provided with pigeon holes or shelves 12, for holding various styles of stationery. These pigeon holes ordinarily occupy the rear portion of the drawers, leaving a space 13 in the forward end thereof, for purposes hereinafter pointed out, but they may be made in a separate structure so as to be capable of being bodily drawn forward inthe drawer. It'is obvious, however, that the shelves 12 may be omit-ted, if desired, or employed in only one drawer. If desired, in order to provide additional space for stationery and other papers, a double drawer 14- may be provided in place of the ordinary drawer. Such a drawer is hinged at the bottom and is adapted to swing outwardly and is provided with a plurality of shelves or partitions 15 for the reception of papers, etc.

Between the sets of drawers the usual typewriter platform 16 is provided and is slidably connected with the forward portion of the desk at 17 at a convenient height. This slidable connection consists preferably of a pair of slotted angle irons 18 secured to the lower side of the platform at opposite edges. Suitable pins or rollers 19 are secured to the desk, adapted to run in the slots of the angle bars, these slots being closed and of a suflicient length to permit the desired movement of the typewriter platform.

The rear end of the platform is supported by mechanism to be hereinafter described, for raising the same into position for use when the typewriter desk is open, and for lowering the same out of position when the same is closed.

The typewriter is concealed when not in use by a cover 20 consisting of a portion of the desk top 21 located over the typewriter platform. This cover consists also of side portions 22 of the desk top, which serve as closures for the openings into the drawers. When the cover is raised access may be had to the drawer space without pulling open the drawer. This saves much time and also renders it unnecessary to provide for a slidingdrawer, thus reducing cost of manufacture. A. desk may be constructed, therefore, with the usual drawer space but without the features which render it slidable so as to be capable of being pulled forward, as the ordinary drawer. The forward portion of the cover 22 is hinged to the desk by links 23, which lie substantially horizontal when the desk is closed. The rear portion of the cover is hinged to the desk by links 24:. These links are pivoted to the inner sides 25 of the desk pedestals and are so proportioned and arranged that the forward portion of the cover is given an initial movement in a substantially upward direction for purposes hereinafter pointed out. When the cover is opened it assumes a substantially vertical position at the rear of the desk with the side portions 22 thereof eX- tending above the top of the desk.

Secured to the lower face of one or both of the side portions 22 are receptacles 26 divided, if desired, into a plurality of spaces for receiving stationery, or the like. These receptacles are located in a convenient position when the cover is opened, and are adapted to lie within the spaces 13 in the upper drawer when the cover is closed. The initial upward movement given to the forward edge of the cover when the same is opened is for the purpose of raising these receptacles out of the drawers before the cover is swung to the rear.

The rear portion of the typewriter platform is supported by levers 27 pivoted at one end to the platform and intermediate their ends, at 28, to the inner sides 25 of the desk in such a position that when the desk is open these levers stand in a substantially vertical position, or as nearlyt so as is necessary. The opposite ends of the levers are connected by links 29 with the rear end of the cover 20.

A copy-holder 30 is supported in conven ient position by a bracket consisting of a horizontal member 31 hinged at 32 and 33 to the copyholder and cover, respectively, and an inclined member 3a hinged at 35 to the horizontal member 31. The lower end of the inclined member 34 is adapted to seat in any one of a plurality of notches 35, depending upon the position desired for the copyholder 30. By this means the angle of inclination of the surface of the copyholder may be varied so that light will properly fall upon the copy held on the copyholder, and so that there will be no objectionable reflection of light into the eyes of the operator. The copyholder is adapted to be folded against the under side of the cover by withdrawing the member 3% from its notch and permitting the same and the copyholder 30 and the member 31 to hang vertically, and be retained in position against the bottom of the cover by means of the catch 36, which is adapted to engage the pin 37 extending from the side of the mem ber 31.

Desk slides 38 are preferably provided in the usual position above the upper drawers. If desired, these may be arranged to slide along suitable guides 39. The rear portion 40, shown more clearly in dotted lines in Fig. 5, is cut away so that when the slide is drawn forward for use, access may be had through the top of the desk to the upper drawers 11, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The slides are made sufiiciently short, so that the same, when pushed back, uncover the opening into the desk, and so that the cover of the desk may be closed.

By arranging the levers connecting the cover and the platform, as illustrated, the resultant forces set up by the weight of the typewriter pass very nearly through the pivot point 28 when the desk is in open and closed position. In these positions, therefore, the turning moment of the weight of the typewriter around the pivot 28 is at substantially its minimum and there is therefore no tendency to slam the cover shut, or to jerk the same open when nearly in its vertical position. The maximum force exerted by the operator to move the top pressure upon the rear of the platform is not sufficient to unexpectedly swing the cover into closed position. The initial movement of the typewriter and platform on closing or opening is a sliding movement without any substantial raising or lowering of the typewriter, which requires little effort. 1

When the typewriter is in position for use, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the platform 16 is moved forward, so that it is unnecessary to provide means for manually sliding the typewriter forward on the platform when the same is desired to be used. The typewriter may be secured immovably on the platform. lVhen the desk is in closed position, the board 41 upon which the lifting handle 42 is secured, closes the gap between the lower edge of the cover and the forward edge of the platform 16.

I claim:

1. A typewriter desk comprising in combination, a desk top arranged at a height suitable for use as a writing top, pedestals for supporting said top and having spaces therein directly below said top for the reception of stationery and the like, a typewriter platform between said pedestals and below the level of the top and means for lowering said platform when the same is not in use, a cover for the typewriter consisting of a portion of said top, movable to uncover the typewriter, said movable por tion including also portions of the desk top over the forward ends of said stationery spaces and adapted to give access thereto when said top is raised, and receptacles secured on the movable portion of said desk top and adapted to be lowered into said stationery spaces when said top is closed.

2. In a typewriter desk having a flat writing top and an upper drawer, the combination of a typewriter platform, a movable cover consisting of a portion of the desk top adapted alternatively for giving access through the top to said drawer and for covering the typewriter, and mechanism connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is raised into position for use when said cover is raised and lowered out of position when said cover is closed.

3. In a typewriter desk having a flat top and a space below said top for stationery. and the like, the combination of a typewriter platform, a movable cover consisting of a portion of the desk top adapted alternatively for giving access through the top to said space and for covering the typewriter. mechanism connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is moved into position for use when said cover is raised, and a receptacle for stationery and the like secured on the lower face of the part of said cover closing the opening into said space, and adapted to be lowered therein when said cover is closed to lower said platform to closed position.

4. In a flat top typewriter desk having an upper drawer at the side thereof, the combination of a typewriter platform, a movable cover consisting of a portion of the desk top adapted in one position to give access through the top to said drawer and adapted in another position to cover the typewriter, and mechanism connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is moved into position for use when said cover is raised and lowered out of position when said cover is closed, said drawer being provided with recesses for stationery, accessible when said cover is raised and without movement of said drawer.

5. In a typewriter desk having a flat top and a space directly below said top for stationery and the like, the combination of a typewriter platform, a movable cover consisting of a portion of the desk top adapted alternatively for giving access through thetop to said space and for covering the typewriteiymechamsm connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is moved into position for use when said cover is raised and lowered out of position when said cover is closed, and a desk slide above said space adapted to be pushed back sufficiently to uncover the opening into said space through the top.

6. In a fiat top typewriter desk having an said cover is closed, and a desk slide above, said drawer being cut away at the rear thereof and adapted either when pushed back or when pulled forward to operative position to uncover the opening into said drawer through the top.

7. In a flat top typewriter desk having upper drawers at the sides thereof, the combination of a typewriter platform between said drawers and below the level of the top, a movable cover consisting of the forward portion of the desk top and a central portion over the typewriter platform for giving access to said drawers through the top when opened and for covering the typewriter when closed, levers hinging said cover to said desk whereby the same may be moved to a substantially vertical position at the rear of the desk to uncover the openings into said drawers, and mechanism connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is raised,

into position for use when the cover is opened, and lowered out of position when said cover is closed.

8. In a flat top typewriter desk having upper spaces at the sides thereof below said top for stationary and the like, the con'ibination of a typewriter platform between said drawers and below the level of the top, a movable cover consisting of the forward portion of the desk top and a central portion over the typewriter platform adapted alternatively for giving access to said spaces through the top and for covering the ty ewriter, and levers for hinging said cover to the desk comprising forward levers connected wi h the forward portion of said cover to give said portion an initial movement when opening in a substantially upward direction, and rear levers for swinging the rear of said cover to a vertical position below the top of said desk.

9. In a flat top typewriter desk having upper drawers at the sides thereof, the combination of a typewriter platform between said drawers and below the level of the top, a movable cover consisting of the forward portion of the desk top and a central portion over the typewriter platform for giving access to said drawers through the top when open, and for covering the typewriter when closed, stationary receptacles secured to the lower side of the portions of said cover closing the openings into said drawers and adapted to lie within said drawers when said cover is closed, and levers for hinging said cover to the desk comprising forward levers connected with the forward portion of said cover to give said portion an initial movement when opening in a substantially upward direction to raise said receptacles from the drawers, and rear levers for swinging the rear of said cover to a vertical position below the top of said desk.

10. In a flat top typewriter desk having upper drawers at the sides thereof, the combination of a typewriter platform between said drawers and below the level of the top, a movable cover consisting of the forward portion of the desk top and a central portion over the typewriter platform for giving access to said drawers through the top and alternatively for covering the typewriter, stationery receptacles secured to the lower face of the portion of said cover closing the openings into said drawers and adapted to lie within said drawers when said cover is closed, levers for hinging said cover to the desk comprising forward levers connected with the forward portion of said cover to give said portion an initial movement when opening in a substantially upward direction to raise said receptacles from the drawers, and rear levers for swinging the rear of said cover to a vertical position below the top of said desk, and mechanism connecting said cover to sait desk whereby the same may be moved to a substantially vertical position at the rear of the desk to uncover the openings into said drawers, and mechanism connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is moved into position for use when the cover is opened, and lowered out of position when said cover is closed.

12. In a flattop typewriter desk having upper drawers at the sides thereof, the combination of a typewriter platform between said drawers and below the level of the top, a movable cover consisting of the central portion of said desk top over said platform and side portions of the top over the forward ends of said drawers, levers hinging said cover to said desk whereby the same may be moved to a substantially vertical position at the rear of the desk to uncover the openings into said drawers, mechanism connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is moved into position for use when the cover is opened, and lowered out of position when said cover is closed, and receptacles for stationery secured to the lower face of the side portions of said cover and adapted to be lowered into said drawers when the cover is closed and to be raised to a vertical position above said desk when the cover is opened.

13. In a flat top typewriter desk having upper drawers at the sides thereof, the combination of a typewriter platform between said drawers and below the level of the top, a movable cover consisting of the forward portion of the desk top and a central portion over the typewriter platform for giving access to said drawers through the top and alternatively for covering the typewriter, levers for hinging said cover to the desk comprising forward levers connected with the forward portion of said cover to give said portion an initial movement when opening in a substantially upward direction. and rear levers for swinging the rear of said cover to a vertical position below the top of said desk, and mechanism connecting said cover and platform for moving the platform into position for use when the cover is opened, and vice versa.

14. In a typewriter desk having a flat top and a space below said top for stationery and the like, the combination of a typewriter platform. a movable cover consisting of a portion of the desk top adapted alternatively for giving access through the top to said space and for covering the typewriter, mechanism connecting said cover and platform whereby the latter is moved into position for use when said cover is raised, a receptacle for stationery and the like secured on the under face of the cover part which closes the opening into said space and adapted to be lowered into said space when the cover is moved to normal closing position, a copyholder mounted on the lower face of said cover beside said receptacle, and means carried by the cover for holding the copyholder adjustably in 0 erative position.

WALTE C. BIENEMAN. 

